Riggers pay range in San Diego
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,230 a year or less, while the top 10% make $97,740 or more. The middle half of riggers in San Diego earn between $61,880 and $88,860.
- $51K10th
- $62K25th
- $72KMedian
- $89K75th
- $98K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,520 | $6,293 | $36.31 |
| Median | $72,030 | $6,002 | $34.63 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,880 | $5,157 | $29.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $88,860 | $7,405 | $42.72 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Riggers pay in San Diego vs. California and the U.S.
Riggers in San Diego earn 13% less than the California average ($87,230) and 13% more than the U.S. average ($66,810). At the median the gap is +15% against the U.S. median of $62,640.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego | $75,520 | $72,030 | $51,230 | $97,740 | 340 |
| California | $87,230 | $85,730 | $53,190 | $127,810 | 2,260 |
| United States | $66,810 | $62,640 | $40,680 | $97,850 | 22,530 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Riggers salary after taxes in San Diego
On the average salary of $75,520, a single filer in San Diego takes home about $58,989 a year, or $4,916 a month and $2,269 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Diego a good place for riggers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Diego area are 12% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.9), so the average $75,520 buys what about $67,497 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in San Diego ($58,690). A typical home costs $946,365, or 12.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Riggers salary in other California cities
San Diego ranks 5th of 6 California metro areas for this job; Los Angeles pays the most ($94,170).
- Los Angeles$94,170
- San Francisco$88,020
- Oxnard$86,110
- Sacramento$75,960
- San Diego$75,520
- Riverside$73,150
Highest-paying cities for riggers
Fargo, ND pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($145,720).
- Fargo, ND$145,720
- New York, NY$101,710
- Seattle, WA$98,560
- Los Angeles, CA$94,170
- Salt Lake City, UT$89,980
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Riggers salary in San Diego: questions
How much do riggers make an hour in San Diego?
$36.31 an hour on average, and $34.63 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level riggers salary in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,230 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the riggers take-home pay in San Diego?
About $58,989 a year ($4,916 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,520. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do riggers earn more in San Diego than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% more than the U.S. average for this job ($66,810).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 49-9096; area San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (41740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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